The global silicone gel market is projected to reach USD 1.96 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2016 to 2026 in terms of value. The base year considered for the study is 2015 while the forecast period (midterm) is from 2016 to 2021 and (long term) is from 2016 to 2026. Silicone gels are composed of reactive silicone polymers and reactive silicone cross-linkers. These gels are increasingly being used in the electrical & electronics industry for various applications in automotive electronics and LED lighting. Moreover, these gels are also highly demanded for medical applications which range from very soft gels for prosthetic and implant applications to very sticky gels for topical and transdermal wound care applications.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Efficient and superior properties of silicones gels are boosting the demand

Opportunities

Challenges

Fluctuation in raw material prices

Efficient and superior properties of silicones gels are boosting the demand

Water is a basic necessity for human existence and industrial development. Increasing population and expansion of industries increases the demand for water, which in turn, increases the need for membranes in water & wastewater treatment applications. Moreover, increasing concerns regarding wastewater discharge and drinking water quality is also driving the membrane separation technology market, globally.

The scarcity of pure water has provided opportunities for use of membranes in brackish water purification. High purity standards and stringent regulations regarding drinking water and industrial wastewater discharge are leading to increased water and wastewater treatment activities that use RO, UF, and MF membranes on a large scale. In the U.S., it is mandated by the law that citizens should be given clean and abundant water. The EUs bathing water standards policy have rules for safeguarding public health with clean bathing water and so on. All these policies are set to increase water & wastewater treatment processes across the world. This is driving the growth of the global membrane separation technology market.

Objectives Of The Study

To define, describe, and forecast the silicone gels market on the basis of end-use industry, and region

To provide detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges)

To strategically analyze micromarkets1 with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and contribution to the total market

To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide a competitive landscape for market leaders

Note1: Micromarkets are the sub segments of the membrane separation technology market included in the report

Note2: Core competencies of companies are determined in terms of their key developments, SWOT analysis, and key strategies adopted by them to sustain in the market

The top-down and bottom-up both approaches have been used to estimate and validate the size of the global silicone gels market and to estimate the size of various other dependent submarkets. The research study involved the use of extensive secondary sources, directories, and databases such as Hoovers, Bloomberg, Chemical Weekly, Factiva, Food & Drug Association (FDA) ingredients certifications, Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other government and private websites, to identify and collect information useful for the technical, market-oriented, and commercial study of the silicone gels market.

Major Market Developments

In October, 2016, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. expanded its silicone business by establishing a plant in Japan, and at the same time, expanding its Technical Center in Japan that performs technical services for silicone rubber molding and processing.

In November 2015, Wacker Chemie presents two novel products at in-cosmetics Asia 2015. BELSIL EG 5, a silicone elastomer gel, and BELSIL OW 2100, a siloxane glycol copolymer are developed for skin-care products and sunscreens.

In February 2016, Nusil Technology merged with Avantor Performance material (US) to form the global leader in ultra-high-purity materials for the life sciences and advanced technology markets.

In June 2015, Elkem (Norway) and Bluestar Silicones International (France) merged to form Bluestar Silicones to create a vertically integrated silicones company, which is financially robust with the ability to grow profitably in all business segments.

Key Target audience

Silicone gel manufacturers

Silicone gel traders, distributors, and suppliers

Raw material suppliers

Government and research organizations

FDA and other regulatory bodies

Industry associations

End-use industries

This study answers several questions for the stakeholders, primarily which market segments they should focus upon during the next two to five years to prioritize their efforts and investments.

Scope of the Report

The research report categorizes the silicone gels market on the basis of end-use industry, and region. It provides a forecast of the market size, in terms of value and volume, and an analysis of trends in each of the submarkets.

On the basis of end-use industry

Electrical & electronics

Automotive Electronics

LED Lighting

HV Insulation

Photovoltaic Sector

Medical & Pharmaceuticals

Prosthetic & Implants

Scar Treatment & Wound Care

Pharmaceuticals

Others

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Other Industries

Agriculture

Footwear

Aerospace & Defense

On the basis of region

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Middle East & Africa

South America

Critical questions which the report answers

What are the upcoming trends for silicone gels in developing nations?

Which are the key players in the market and how intense is the competition?

Available Customizations

With the given market data, MarketsandMarkets offers customizations according to the companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company information

Analysis and profiles of additional global as well as regional market players (Up to three)

Country-level information

Market analysis for additional countries

The global silicone gel market, in terms of value, is projected to reach USD 1.96 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 6.9%, from 2016 to 2026. High-growth of the electrical & electronics industry and increase in in demand of silicone gel for new applications like comfort pads, protective skin coverings, and sealing applications in the medical, footwear, aerospace & defense and agriculture industries pharmaceutical industry are the key reasons driving the growth of the global silicone gel market.

The global silicone gel market is dominated by the electrical & electronics industry. This end-use industry is projected to lead the silicone gel market, in terms of value and volume, from 2016 to 2026. This is due to the key properties of silicone gels such as hydrophobicity, high dielectric breakdown, resistance to high and low temperatures, which enable these gels to be used in critical and harsh environments in the electrical & electronics industry. However, the high manufacturing cost of the silicone gel, as compared to its substitutes, is restricting their use to certain specific applications. This is hampering the growth of the market. The growing demand from the medical industry is a key opportunity for companies in this market. This is due to the increasing aging population, worldwide, along with increasing awareness about health concerns drives medical applications of silicone gel.

Asia-Pacific is largest and the fastest growing region of the silicone gel market. There is an increase in the demand for silicone gel applications, especially in the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific. This demand is attributed to growth of end-use industries, competitive manufacturing costs, and high economic growth rate in the Asia-Pacific silicone gel market. Moreover, the rising usage in the photovoltaic sector coupled with the demand for small, low cost and advanced electronics component in leading Asia-Pacific countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea is fuelling the demand for silicone gel in this region. These factors are attracting companies to adopt investment and expansion strategies in this region.

North America is the second largest market for the silicone gels. The market in this region is highly diversified and the manufacturers are strongly focusing on development of new products and advanced technology to cater the demand of its end users. The leading companies operating in the North American silicone gel market are Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), NuSil Technology LLC (U.S.), and Momentive Performance Materials Inc. (U.S.). These companies are undertaking several strategic developments including new product launch, expansion, merger, and partnership to strengthen their competitiveness in the highly potential market of North America.

Silicone gels is witnessing high growth owing to its increasing demand from end-use industries for various applications The major end-use industries of silicone gel include electrical & electronics, medical & pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & personal care, and others.

Electrical & Electronics

There is high demand for silicone gel in electrical & electronics industry for various applications such as highly sensitive circuits, semiconductor, and other electronic components and assemblies due to its stability in low and high temperatures. It is also used in high-voltage applications, absorption of sound waves, and for the damping of vibrations and oscillations. In addition, it is an ideal material for HV applications, as it effectively insulates underground and above ground power and cable lines.

The growing trend of miniaturization in the electronics industry has forced electronics component manufacturers to produce smaller components that require higher heat resistance to reduce the probability of failure and ensure reliability. Thus, the demand for silicone gels in the electrical & electronics industry is witness rapid growth, as it provides adequate protection at component interfaces that is a critical requirement in higher power electronics.

Medical & Pharmaceuticals

Silicone gel is extensively used in various medical & pharmaceuticals applications owing to its versatility, biocompatibility, conditioning benefits, low surface tension, high permeability, and pressure-sensitive properties. Silicone gel is used in many life saving devices such as pacemakers and also used as active ingredients in products such as antacid and ant flatulent formulations.

In medical industry silicone gel is used as seals, gaskets, microfluidics, shrouds, and others applications that demand high biocompatibility. It is also widely used in breast implants, contact lenses, dressings and bandages, and a variety of other medical applications.

Cosmetics & Personal care

Silicone gel and silicone elastomers are widely used in the cosmetics & personal care industry. The crosslinked silicone gel-based products provide unique functional and aesthetic attributes to the cosmetic formulator. Silicone gel offers several functional benefits including a rheological stable base with delivery benefits and good compatibility with other solvents, actives, and inert ingredients in the formula. Silicone gel material spreads evenly and provides a silky and cushioning feel to the skin. It offers smooth, silky delivery onto the skin with excellent spreading capacity; soft, non-greasy, rub-in during application; and reduced tack in finished formulations.

Critical questions the report answers:

What are the upcoming hot bets for membrane separation technology market?

How market dynamics is changing for different types of technology in different applications?

Some of the key market players in the silicone gel market are Dow Corning (US), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany), Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd (Japan) and Bluestar Silicones (France). New Product Launch and expansion are among the key strategies adopted by these major market players. For instances, in October, 2016, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. expanded its silicone business by establishing a plant in Japan, and at the same time, expanding its Technical Centre in Japan that performs technical services for silicone rubber molding and processing.

To speak to our analyst for a discussion on the above findings, click Speak to Analyst